When last we left our heroes...
In "Eternal Midnight" we left Ensign Tommy O'Day stranded on the corner of NO and WHERE (apologies to Joss Whedon). Since our interlude into the past, we catch up with Farragut as she is back at Starbase 310, ready for her next set of orders.
Special Guest Appearance by Captain Benjamin Maxwell of the starship
Phoenix.
And now, without further delay, the teaser for "Eight The Hard Way." (bonus to whoever knows where that phrase comes from)
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Star Trek: Full Speed Ahead
By Michael D. Garcia
Episode Seven: Eight the Hard Way
NCC-65420 (USS
Phoenix)
Docked at Starbase 310
Stardate 43322
Starboard Airlock
"Permission to come aboard, sir," said Captain Krystine Leone as she strode through the inner airlock door.
"Permission granted, sir. Welcome aboard, Captain. It's a real honor to make your acquaintance." The lieutenant commander standing just within the door brushed back a strand of blonde hair before extending her hand. Her blue eyes sparkled above a light dusting of freckles.
Leone accepted the proffered hand, nearly taken aback by the warm welcome. "Uh, likewise, Commander...?"
"Oh! Hayes, sir. Olivia Hayes."
"Good to meet you," said Leone with a smile of her own. "I'm Krystine Leone."
"I know."
The handshake continued for a while longer than normal, and the captain looked down. "Can I have my hand back?"
"Sorry!" said Hayes, dropping her hand as though it was on fire. "As I was saying, sir, your reputation precedes you."
Leone shot her an arched glance with a smirk. "Does it, now?"
"Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that, sir. I just meant that I've been so looking forward to meeting you."
Unable to help the discomfiture presented by the commander's demeanor, Leone gestured toward the corridor. "Er, yes, well... I assume Captain Maxwell is awaiting my arrival?"
"Of course, sir," Hayes calmed herself noticeably. "I'm sorry about gushing like that."
"It's all right, I guess," she said, as they began down the corridor toward the turbolift. "I just wonder what you've been told."
Hayes grinned, as though she were waiting for the opportunity to tell her. "My cousin is Commander Elisabeth Hayes, class of '49."
That changed everything. Leone regarded her warmly in light of the new information. "Oh my, God. You're Lisa's cousin? Wait..."
"Sir?"
"Her cousin's name was Janna, not Olivia."
"It's Olivia
Sarjanna Hayes," explained the lieutenant commander. "Janna's a nickname Lisa gave me when I was three."
Suddenly, Leone embraced the cousin of her Academy roommate. "Oh, well, gosh, you're practically family, then. No wonder I got the full court press back there. I didn't realize that you were
that Janna Hayes."
Hayes returned the embrace. "Lisa said you were very affectionate."
Leone chuckled. "You could say that, yeah." She stepped back and asked, "I haven't spoken to her in a long time. How is she doing?"
"Oh, she's doing fine. She's pulling shore duty right now at Starbase 10 for a few years to get some experience under her belt before she pushes for that fourth pip." They made it to the turbolift and entered. "Main Bridge."
As the car moved upward, Leone thought it over. "Last time I saw her, she was shipping out for a four year tour on the
Crazy Horse."
Hayes considered that. "She came back about three years ago, with another solid pip on her collar and wearing red instead of gold."
"Good for her. I have to drop her a line at some point and tell her we ran into each other," promised Leone, just as the doors to the lift opened to present the main bridge of the
Phoenix.
"I'll do the same," grinned Hayes. "This way, please, sir." She led Leone from the rear turbolift onto the bridge. It was nearly exact same module she'd become accustomed to on
Farragut, with the notable exception that the navy blue trim was replaced with a bright, almost fire engine red.
Leone thought it looked bizarre against the beige tone of the carpet, and awful against the wood grain of the tactical horseshoe at the rear of the bridge. Nevertheless, she stepped down to the lower half of the bridge and waited for her escort to signal the commanding officer that she arrived.
The doors to the ready room slid open shortly after Hayes pressed the panel to the side. Like the bridge, the captain's ready room's trim matched that of the ship's signature color, and within sat Captain Benjamin Maxwell.
Maxwell, like Leone, served during the Cardassian Wars, though he served as the commanding officer of the starship
Rutledge. Leone, on the other hand, served as a junior operations officer aboard the
Intrepid. Maxwell's status as a hero of those wars far outweighed her contributions. She felt like she was meeting a living legend of Starfleet.
Hayes grinned widely. "Captain Benjamin Maxwell, it is my privilege to present Captain Krystine Leone."
"Thank you, XO. That will be all," said Maxwell tersely, without looking up from the terminal on top of his desk.
"Sir, I beg your indulgence-"
Captain Maxwell's eyes lifted to fix his executive officer with a cold stare. The chilling glare did more to interrupt her than his words. "Lieutenant Commander Hayes. That
will be all."
Hayes' demeanor changed considerably at his second response. "Aye, aye, sir," she replied, taking a step back before twisting on her heels and exiting. Her abrupt departure seemed to suck all the warmth from the room, as the other captain sat behind his desk.
Leone waited for Maxwell to acknowledge her, let alone offer her a seat. Seeing as he outranked her through time in grade, out of respect for that, she tried to affect a subordinate stance while in his ready room, as she would expect of a visiting captain to hers. Aboard his or her own ship, the captain was the final authority of all those aboard.
"Thank you," he said finally, "for arriving so quickly."
She inclined her head succinctly, and allowed a smile to spread over her lips. "Of course, sir. I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Maxwell allowed his gaze to meet hers. She searched his eyes for any hint of cordiality, but found none. "Have you?"
Leone bristled at his tone and demeanor. "Yes, sir. I have a friend who served under you on the
Rutledge."
"Is that so?" he asked,
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant Commander Ariel Elannis. She's my chief of operations. She served as a third class master-at-arms during the war," supplied Leone, trying to find some way to make a connection with the senior captain. "She speaks very highly of you, sir."
The wrinkles around his eyes softened slightly. "I'm sure she does, though I wish I could say the same. I'm afraid I don't recall making her acquaintance."
"Well, sir, if you'd like, I'm certain she would love the pleasure."
"Perhaps, if there's time."
She nodded. "Of course, sir."
"Now, as you may or may not be aware, Admiral T'Cirya has assigned your vessel under my command for operations along the Cardassian border."
"Yes, sir. I received my written orders this morning, shortly before receiving your request to see me."
The previous softness disappeared and his tone grew an edge. "It wasn't a request, Captain. It was an order."
In that moment, Leone felt like a first year midshipman once more, standing before the Academy superintendent's desk. She stiffened and stood at attention out of habit. "Yes, sir."
"I understand that you and Rear Admiral T'Cirya are old friends."
"I served under her command as executive officer of the
Potemkin, and with her on the
Victory."
"And that you are the daughter of Vice Admiral Angelina Leone."
"Yes, sir."
"I also understand that your command was by order of Rear Admiral Alynna Nechayev, also a friend of the family."
"Yes, sir."
"And that you have connections with the family of Vice Admiral Joy Aspinall, the sitting vice chief of Starfleet Operations."
"Yes, sir. Our families lived next door to one another for years. In fact," she added with mild pride, "her youngest son is my current lead flight controller."
The word "controller" hung in the air as Captain Maxwell said nothing in response to that, seemingly content to consider her words in quiet repose. As the moments dragged, Leone felt herself becoming increasingly unsure of her footing within the suddenly cramped ready room.
"I see," he said, slowly. A gentle tap on the control panel of the desktop terminal rewarded him with a soft audio tone. The information that appeared on the screen widened his eyes noticeably. "I've been serving in Starfleet for over thirty years; fourteen as a commanding officer." He gestured to her to take a seat.
"Thank you, sir," she said, seating herself accordingly.
Maxwell offered a sly grin that did not touch his eyes. "Your first mission as captain seems to on classified hold by three different admirals; two of whom are 'friends of the family,' so to speak. I attempted to access them, and was met with clearance requests above my current level. That level, I might add, that is considerably higher than yours."
She decided to say nothing to that, instead allowing him to appraise her response underneath the mirrored, humorless grin she gave him.
He continued, "In fact, these holds came about due to the fact that you were being investigated by the office of the Inspector General. Coincidence?"
Leone's expression did not change. "I wouldn't dare presume to debate the wisdom of Starfleet Command, sir."
His grin never dropped. "I'm sure you wouldn't, Captain. It's difficult to debate with a decision that works to your favor."
"I'm not certain of what to say to that, sir," she admitted, honestly.
Maxwell rose from his seat and stood before the viewport, looking out at the traffic surrounding the Starbase. "Perhaps it's better for you to say nothing, Captain. However, were our positions reversed, I would concern myself with my growing reputation within Starfleet."
"With all due respect, sir, I'm not sure if I catch your meaning. Have I done something wrong?"
"The fact that you're unaware of it only makes it worse, Captain Leone," he said, refusing to face her. "Are you aware that some of your brother and sister officers have taken to calling you 'Princess Leone'?"
She dropped her gaze to his desk upon mention of that nickname. One she thought to be long since dead from her days as a freshman midshipman at Starfleet Academy. A nickname that another freshman midshipman, Elisabeth Hayes, helped to squash by defending her so vigorously. "No, sir, I was not."
"I see. Perhaps now that you are aware, Captain, you may take steps to reduce the scope of your political ties and prove yourself to be as capable an officer as the Admiralty holds you to be."
Leone's grin disappeared, replace by a stony expression of neutrality. She did not want him to see that he scored a direct hit on her ego, and in turn, she did not need him to perceive any sign of disrespect toward him. "I thank you, sir, for your kind advice."
"It is not kind, Captain," he corrected her sharply. "I have a vested interest in seeing those ships under my command working together as a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, it will take some time."
She inclined her head and stood from her seat. "Yes, sir. I understand."
He turned away from the view and reseated himself behind his desk. Maxwell tapped his desktop terminal and swiveled it around to face her. "The Starfleet Public Affairs Office has requested a starship be dispatch to Starbase Six, in order to assume a courier mission from the starship
Fearless.
Farragut is ordered on temporary duty with the PAO, effective immediately. You will assume
Fearless' mission."
Leone tilted her head and did nothing to hide her displeasure. "Courier duty, sir? I assumed that we would be put to work on the border."
"You assumed incorrectly, Captain." He sighed, dropping any pretense of joviality with her outright. "I don't know you beyond your reputation, and that means that I can't trust you, yet."
Leone sat back as though he slapped her in the face. This was practically unheard of! And to have it coming from Benjamin Maxwell, of all people... "Sir, I respectfully request that you reconsider.
Farragut is battle-ready."
He ignored her. "You will not deviate from this mission under any circumstance other than to satisfy Starfleet directives or general orders requiring you to. If such a case arises, I expect a detailed report from you explaining your decisions. In fact, I would like to be copied on all official logs generated by you and your crew. Understood?"
"Aye, sir," replied Leone. She mentally catalogued every word he said for her report to Aunt Alynna.
"There will be no further cover provided by your family and friends. Under my command, your 'royalty,' as it were, means nothing. We work for a living."
"Aye, sir."
"And should I hear that you complained to one of your highly-placed friends or members of your own family, and believe me... I will. It will only reinforce your sub-standard reputation."
Damn. "Yes, sir."
"I expect to see your ship at high warp within the hour."
She rose from the seat, as she could hear the end of the conversation in his tone. "Aye, sir."
Maxwell shot her a hard glare. "Welcome to the
real Starfleet, Captain. You're dismissed."
Leone took one step back, as Hayes had before, then twisted on her heels and exited. As she did so, Hayes rose from the center seat and approached her.
"May I walk you back to the airlock, sir?" she asked.
Although she did not want to be rude, Leone opted to walk alone. "That's quite all right, Commander," she told Hayes. Without allowing her an opportunity to say anything further, Leone entered the nearest turbolift and made her way back to
Farragut.
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<Picard>Comment is invited.</Picard>
-- ZC
Ariel's not a nice person. People will fall all over themselves for her and she's used to having a man or a woman at her beck and call because of who she is and what she is. That's really defined who she is and what she wants. So, imagine, if you will, a person who's used to having everyone around her be so fascinated by her that she's now completely dependent upon that attention/devotion/adoration... even if she says she doesn't want it. It's that background noise she's counted on since the first day in grade school when she couldn't figure out why the boys would always surround her.
)
